Sorry Ali, You're Stuck With Me!

While I love this blog and the things we get to share on it, there is nothing like a real live conversation!  It was really good to talk to you this weekend.  I spent part of the weekend thinking about friends and friendship.  I realized after our discussion that you were the one that got me thinking about it.  Here's what I've decided.

There are many definitions and types of friends, and these people (human or not) are usually transient folks in our lives.  Remember that parking lot sign we saw in the marina parking lot in Bodega Bay north of San Francisco?  I've got it somewhere.  I'll post it at some point.  It said, "Permanent to the left, and Transients to the right".  I think it's a metaphor for friendship.  There are people that will be in our lives for a time period, whether it be a semester or a decade.  They help us in some way during that time, maybe teaching us something about ourselves, or giving us something we need, or we have the opportunity to help someone else.  Those are the transient people. 

Then, there are the permanent kind.  The kind that has known you through your good times, bad times, and everything in between.  And while we may not know every little detail of each other's daily lives, these are the friends that will be at your house at 4am if you need them.  These are the friends that allow you to go off and be who you are, but always know that you can come back to them and share where you are at that moment.  I think you and I, Ali, are those kind of friends.  Permanent.

Sorry Ali.  You're stuck with me... ;)